Micro-SOP: Who can apply

The developer and the project must meet a number of requirements for the Micro-SOP for First Nations and Communities. Detailed eligibility requirements can be found in Section 2 of the Program Rules.

Main requirements include:

Clean or renewable: The energy must be clean or renewable as defined in the Clean Energy Act

Located in B.C., and outside Protected Areas: Projects must be located in B.C. which includes Canadian and B.C. territorial waters, and within BC Hydro's service area. Projects must not be located in a Protected Area as defined in the Clean Energy Act

Over 100 KW up to 1 MW in size: The project must be over 100 kilowatts up to and including 1 megawatt

First Nations or community Involvement: Projects are required to have significant beneficial ownership and active participation by First Nations or to have at least 50% control and beneficial ownership by community groups as defined in the Program Rules

New generators: Generation technology must meet the requirements to be considered either commercial operation generation technology or completed prototype generation technology

Interconnected to the distribution system: All projects must be directly interconnected to the Distribution System

BC Hydro customer projects (self-generation): Projects located behind a BC Hydro customer load will be required to meet the customer's own load requirements from self-generation before selling any electricity to BC Hydro. This "net-of-load" approach will be facilitated by adoption of smart meters for most Micro-SOP projects where technically feasible

BC Hydro incentives: Conditions and restrictions apply to projects that have previously received or will be receiving BC Hydro incentives

Target commercial operation date (COD): The project's target COD must be in a year with sufficient room available for the project's annual energy volume in BC Hydro's energy volume target, and be within three years of signing the Project EPA

Permits must be in place: The developer must have obtained all material permits required for the project, demonstrate site control, and the site must be zoned appropriately if local government land-use requirements apply

First Nations consultation: BC Hydro will be assessing the adequacy of First Nations consultation for any proposed project prior to offering an EPA

Please refer to the Micro-SOP Rules and Application Form for additional eligibility requirements and details.